Liquid-treating apparatus



H. BERQUIST LIQUID TREATING APPARATUS March 13, 1928.

Original Filed March 2 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 13, 1928. 1,662,630

H. BERQUIST LIQUID TREATING APPARATUS Original Filed March 29, 1922 sSheets-Sheet 2 l 1 J2 J56 0 8 Z 290 25 v oggigfz g 0 0 i 0 o J3 March13, 1928.

' H. BERQUIST LIQUID TREATING APPARATUS Ori in l Filed March 29, 1922 3Sheets-Sheet 5 AWN Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

UNITED STATES HUGO BERQUIST, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 'I'OWILLIAM OF 'PITTSBURGH,

PATENT OFFICE.

S. ELLIOTT, PENNSYLVANIA.

LIQUID-TREATING nrrnnarus.

Application filed March 29, 1922, Serial No. 547,868. Renewed December29, 1988.

The present invention relates broadly to liquid treating apparatus, andmore particularly to apparatus of this character adapted to degasify ordeaerate water for use in heating systems, boiler installations, economizers, and the like to decrease the incrustation producing or corrosiveproperties of the water. i

it has heretofore been customary in apparatus of this general character,as illustrated for example in the patent to V. S. Elliott No. 1,321,999of November 18, 1918, to provide a series of separate organized piecesof apparatus to carry out the various functions. Such separate piecesare assembled inany desired relationship, one exterior to the other, bythe use of suitable piping or connections. Such a construction not onlyinvolves a great deal of expense, but also entails a certain loss ofpressure due to the resistance to vapor --tlow through the connectingpiping or passages. This is partic ularlytrue of the flow between theevaporate ing chamber and the condenser. The result is necessarily aloss or decrease of efficiency. By the present invention theseobjectionable features are obviated, and advantageous results areproduced.

I have also found that where vapor enters a condenser through arelatively restricted inlet there is apt to result a flow through thenests of tubes localized at the point where the vapor is introduced.This operation results from the use of separate units or pieces ofapparatus assembled as referred to. By an organization in accordancewith the present invention ll am able to produce a uniform flow throughthe condenser, and also to maintain therein the desired vapor velocity.V

ltn the accompanying drawings there is shown for pur oses ofillustration only one embodiment o? the present invention. It will beunderstood that changes may be made in the construction and operation ofthe apparatus disclosed and described herein without departing from thespirit ofthe invention or scope of my broader claims. As the inventionbecomes better understood by reference to these drawings and theaccompanying specification, the foregoing and other desirable objectsand advantages will become apparent.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side view, partly broken away,

line

liquid to be treated is first heated and then I enters a chamber whereinthere is maintained a pressure such that a portion of the liquidevaporates. This evaporation is due to an instantaneousboilingorexploding of the liquid resulting from the liberation of heat suppliedby the liquid itself. This reill) sults in the release of the entrainedair and gases, the condensable portionof which is condensed. Thiscondensing is preferably effected in such manner that the heat releasedby the vapors and gases is utilized.

in carrying out the present invention there may be provided a container2 preferably of generally cylindrical shape having removable heads 3 and4. This container, in accordance with the present invention, mayconstitute a casing within which are arranged all or part oi? thediflerent units utilized in effecting the desired treating operation ofthe liquid. With this form of my invention the liquid to be treated maybe supplied to the apparatus through a suitable inlet connection 5communicating with a chamber 6 on the head 1. This chamber is in turnadapted to deliver the liquid to a portion of the tubes 7 of a two passcondenser located within the container 2. The opposite ends of the tubes7 discharge the liquid into a header 8 carried by the head 3. Thisheader delivers the liquid to the other tubes 7 of the two passcondenser, which tubes are effective for returning the liquid to theheader 6 provided with an outlet connection 11 which ma lead to anydesired form of feed water any desired point with respect to thecontainer 2. In, some instances I have found it desirable to positionthe feed water. heater entirely within the container 2.

After leaving the feed water heater in which it is raised to any desiredtemperature, the liquid is adapted to be delivered to a mastercontrolling valve 12, the flow through which may be controlled by asuitably arranged float operated mechanism 13 actuated by the level ofthe liquid within till eater located at the container 2 in any desiredmanner. After leaving the master controlling valve 12, the liquid isadapted to be delivered through a suitable connection 14 to one ormoresecondary valves 15. These valves 15 are preferably of theconstruction shown and claimed in my copending application, Serial No.536,371, filed February 13, 1922. In accordance with this form of myinvention the secondary valve comprises a. chamber 16 preferablyvertically disposed and of such-depth as to permitthe accumulation ofany desired head of water above the valve 15. Extending upwardly fromeach of the valves, and secured thereto in any desired manner, is avalve stem 17 which passes through a suitable bushing or packing 18 inthe casing 19. The upper end of each of the valve stems is preferablyscrew threaded to receive an adjustable follower head 20 by means ofwhich the compression of the spring 21 may be varied as desired. Theupper end of the valve stem, and also the compresion spring, may beenclosed in any desired manner as by a removable v'here a secondaryvalve of this construction is utilized, it will be apparent that thecompression spring may be adjusted to any desired extent to therebydetermine the static head of water Within the chamber 16 necessary toopen each of the valves. For example, if the spring is so set that thestatic head necessary to overcome the tension thereof is equivalent totwo feet of water, as soon as the water rises in the chamber to adistance of two feet above the outlet of the valve it will immediatelybegin to open. As the head of water increases, the extent to which thevalve opens likewise increases. This insures a uniform velocity ofdischarge by means of which the rate of distribution and manner ofdistribution can be accurately controlled.

For effecting a further breaking up and distribution of the liquid, thesecondary spray valve is adapted to deliver the liquid to suitablyarranged distributers 23 in the chamber 24 within the container 2. Thespring of the secondary spray valve naturally restrains the opening ofthe valve, whereby the liquid will issue into the chamber 24 withconsiderable velocity. This, in combination with the distributers,efl'ectivcly breaks up the liquid into fine particles or thin sheets,enabling the entrained gases and vapors to immediately free themselvesfrom the liquid.

Within the chamber 24 I maintain a pressure having such a value that theheated.

liquid sprayed thereinto will be instantly boiled or exploded, due tothe release of a portion of its contained heat, resulting in the partialevaporation of the liquid and the instantaneous release of the entrainedair and gases. For example, if I maintain within the chamber 24 apressure of five pounds per square inch absolute, water would boil inthis chamber at a temperature of approximately 162 F. If the temperatureof the water immediately before it passes the valve 15 is in excess of162 F., a portion of it will be evaporated.

The vapor released during this evapora tion, together with the releasedgases, will enter the condenser and pass around the tubes 7. Due to thelocation of the condenser within the container 2, there may be anopening 25 therein extending the entire length, or a major portion ofthe length, of one side of the condenser. This permits a uniform flowthrough the nests of tubes within the condenser of a character which cannot be produced when the vapor and gases are locally supplied to. thecondenser through a restricted inlet. Furthermore, with a condenser ofthe construction illustrated, it will be apparent that the areaavailable for the flow of the vapor and gases therethrough decreasestoward the outlet 26 of the condenser. This arrangement permits a properproportioning of the flow areas for the vapor and gases therethrough. Itis desirable to have the available flow area diminished as the vaporpenetrates into the condenser. This is true for the reason that thevapor is condensed by the first tubes against which it impinges, so thatthe volume of flow decreases as the penetration into the condenserincreases. In order to maintain a constant velocity, or a velocity ofsuch nature that the tubes are swept clear of any accumulation of gas orvapor, it is desirable that the flow area should decrease as set forth.

During the passage of the vapor and gases through this condenser, itwill be apparent that the heat thereof is absorbed by the incomingliquid passing through the tubes 7. In this manner the heat of the vaporand gases is utilized in effecting a partial preheating of this liquid.The primary condenser also serves the purpose of establishing andmaintaining a definite pressure in the chamber 24. whereby the resultshereinbefore set forth may be produced.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that when the apparatusis operating under a vacuum, non-condensable gases may he removedtherefrom in any desired manner, as, for example, by the use of suitableair exhausting mechanism such as an ejector.

In some cases, it may be desirable to maintain within the chamber 24 atemperature. for example at atmospheric pressure. In such a case the useof an ejector is not required, as the non-condensahlc gases may escapedirectly to the atmosphere. In the drawings, there is illustrated a formof apparatus adapted to operate at atmospheric pressure, but it will beunderstood that the utility of the invention is not limited in thisrespect. With this form of my invention, the secondary condenser,provided where'an ejector is utilized, may. obviously be eliminated.Such an ejector and secondary condenser is disclosed and claimed in mydivisional application Serial No. 198,912 filed June 15, 1927. In theform shown, the non-condensable gases escape directly to the atmospherethrough the outlet 26. With this construction, the raw liquid bee foreit goes to the heater will pass through the tubes of the primarycondenser, and after leaving the heater will pass through the mastercontrol valve and the secondary valve into the chamber'24. Thetemperature of the liquid in the heater will preferably be raised to atemperature in excess of that corresponding to atmospheric pressure.

In some cases it may be desirable or necessary to reduce the temperatureof the liquid after it hasbeen treated in the chamber 24 and the air andgases removed therefrom. In such cases I may provide a heat exchanger 30placed in the bottom of the chamber 24, through which the raw liquid tobe treated may pass on its way to the primary condenser. Within ,theheat exchanger there may be provided a series of chambers 31 havingcommunicating openings 32 between adjacent chambers, the openings beinglocated ad acent dlfi'erent ends of the exchanger .whe'reby a tortuouspath of travel therethrough is provided. The treated liquid flows fromthe chamber 24 into the exchanger through the' inlet 33 and is adaptedto leave the exchanger through'the opening 34. The outlet openingcommunicates with a chamber 35 with which the outlet connection 36forwithdrawing the treated liquidcommunicates.

Located within the chambers'31 of the heat exchanger are tubes 37communicating.

inlet 5 of the primary condenser. With this construction a considerableheating surface is provided whereby the treated liquid leaves theapparatus at a temperature considerably lower than 212 F., or thetemperature maintained within the chamber 24.

By the present invention there is provided an apparatus which utilizesadvantageously the spaces within the chamber of the container, therebyreducing the cost of independent condensers and heat exchangersnecessary for the practice of this system of liquid treatment. Theapparatus is compact, accessible and may be inexpensively installed.Itthus possesses many advantages over apparatus as heretofore providedfor this general purpose.

I claim:

1. In a liquid treating apparatus, a container having an evaporatingchamber there in, means for spraying liquid into said chamber to permitthe release of air and gases from the liquid, means within said chamberfor reducing the temperature of the liquid after the escape of the airand gases therefrom, and means within said chamber for condensing thecondensable portion of the air and gases released from the liquid, saidtwo last mentioned means being connected in series.

2. In a liquid treating apparatus, a container having a liquid space anda vapor space, a heat exchange unit located in said liquid space, a heatexchange unit located in said vapor space, both of said units comprisinga series of tubes, and means for passing the liquid to be treated inseries into and throu h the tubes of said units.v

3. a liquid treating apparatus, a container having a liquid space and avapor space, a plurality of heat exchange units in said vapor space, aheat exchange unit in said liquid space, allof said units compris ing aseries of tubes, and means for passing the liquid to be treatedsuccessively into and through the tubes of said units.

4. In a liquid-treating apparatus, a container having a liquid space anda vapor space, a heat exchange unit located in said liquid space, a heatexchange unit located in said vapor space, and means for passing theliquid to be treated first through said first mentioned unit and thenthrough said second mentioned unit in series.

5. In illiquid-treating apparatus, a con tainer having a liquid spaceand a vapor space, a heat exchange unit in said liquid space, aplurality of heat exchange units in said vapor space, and means forpassing the liquid to be treated successively into and through all ofsaid units with the liquid in said liquid spac 6. In a liquid treatingapparatus, a container having a liquid space and a vapor space, a heatexchange unit located in each ofsaid spaces, each of said unitscomprising a series of tubes, and means for passing the liquid to betreated through the tubes of said units in series.

In testunony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

' HUGO BERQUIST.

passing first through the heat exchange unit

